Improvement in halters for horses



italia Strut @anni @ffice Letters Patent No. 109,431, dated November 22, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT iN HAL-rens Fon Houses.

The Schedulereferred to in these Letters Patent and making paxt of the same.

Teelt whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS LE PLONGEON, of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California,

`have invented an Improved Safety-Halter for Horses;

most instantly quieted, anda runaway horse stopped 5 and It consists of a peculiarly constructed nose-band,`

which will at once, upon drawing upon the reins with l which it is connected, both close the nostrils and mouth of the horse, and, by stopping his breathing, immediately conquer' him.

In order 'to explain my invention so that others will be able to understand its construction and operation, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which- A A represent two slightly curved cheek-pieces or levers, which may be made'of metal or any other suitable material.

B is'what we will call the nose-piece, which is made of the same material as the cheek-pieces A.

This nose-piece is curved, so asv to lit over the horses nose just above the nostrils, acting as a fulcrum, and one end of each cheek-piece is hinged at each of its ends, as shown, so as to embrace the cheeks of the horse upon each side.

At the opposite end of the cheek-pieces `is astrap-V buckle or square, a, through which the rein-straps` pass.

C is a curved jaw-piece, also made of the same material as the pieces A and B.

This piece fits under the lower jaw, and acts, also, as a fulcrum for the cheek-pieces, and has attached at each end a rein or strap, b, which passes through the rings a on the cheek-pieces, and thence to the hands of the rider or driver.

Circular knobs or projections d are secured on the inside of the cheek-pieces near their hinged end, in the proper position for clamping tupon each side of the nostrils of the horse when the reins are drawn upon, and by closiu g them, prevent him from breathing.

Springs e are secured to the cheek-pieces between theknobs d, and project over the joint so as to bear upon the ends of the nose-piece B, and thus keep the cheek-pieces extended and in place.

This nose-band is secured uponthe horses head by means of suitable halter head-gear, which is attached to the squares f.

The reins or straps b can, if desired, pass through the body of the usual bridle-reins, or one separate rein can be used, as most convenient, and must be passed through the martingal'e, which acts as a third fulcrum to Vdraw the horses head down upon his breast at the same time that the clamp is applied.

When a'horse is provided with this halter, should he become unruly, the rider or driver can, by drawing upon the reins l1, close the cheek-pieces rmly against the lower jaw, thus eectually closing his mouth and rendering him decidedly incapable of any further foolishness; but when the reins are released, the springs e throw the cheek-pieces back to their original .position and relieve the horse from the pressure of the knobs and jaw-piece.

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the nose-piece B, curved cheekpieces A A, provided with knobs d (l, curved jawpiece C, and closing-strap B B, all constructed to op erate as shown and described, for thepurpose set forth.

In witness that the above-described invention is claimed by me, I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

AUGUSTUS LE PLONGEON. [1.. s.]

Witnesses:

JOHN L. Boone, rnnann FITZGERALD. 

